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Roast Pork Tenderloin with Fennel

Roast pork tenderloin with fennel, onions, and pears, is an easy to make sheet pan dinner. Savory and aromatic with a hint of sweetness from pears and balsamic vinegar, this pork tenderloin is as perfect for special occasions as it is weeknights.

A four month hiatus from blogging seems like long enough, don’t you think? Let me catch you up on what’s been going on since last we met: work, diaper changes, feeding, crying, numerous trips to a local farm, and a few other things I can’t remember. The last few months have been a bit of a blur, leaving little time for cooking.

Though it felt like I would never again be able to create a recipe, cook that recipe, style the food, and then actually photograph it, I knew I had to try when I made this pork. I recently took a trip to Penzeys Spices in Arlington, MA, to replenish my spice cabinet. Um, have you guys been there? That place is amazing! First of all, they have a parking lot, which isn’t always a given in the greater Boston area. Second, the aisles in the store were so wide that I could easily maneuver my stroller all around. Third, the variety and quality of the spices were superb. I could barely limit myself to the seven that I chose, which means I’m probably due for another trip back there soon. I now understand why Ina Garten makes such a big deal about her “really good” vanilla/mayonnaise/everything else she uses; it makes a difference!

After Penzeys, I bought some fennel bulbs and pork tenderloin to make something yummy and a little different for dinner. I wanted to roast the fennel to mellow the flavor a bit, and decided to add pears for a little sweetness. A balsamic and oil dressing gave it all a tart finish. I rubbed the pork with a mixture of the spices that complemented the pork as well as the veggies; warm, sharp, and spicy. Since I love cooking, but hate doing dishes, I found a way to cook it all on the same pan.

The ingredient list is a bit long, but the prep and cooking for this sheet pan dinner are easy enough to make this a perfect weeknight option. To save even more time, you can cut the veggies and fruit 1-2 days in advance, and mix the spice rub up to a week in advance (and store it in an airtight container). None of the amounts are absolute, either; if you don’t like one of the spices, swap it out for something else. You could add butternut squash, carrots, or a different type of onion to the veggies. Apples would be a great substitute for pears. Regardless of which combo of veggies and spices you use, I highly recommend a meat thermometer. Pork is really easy to overcook or undercook, and a thermometer will give you a perfectly cooked tenderloin every time. I got mine for <$10 at Ikea; though I’ve had to replace it a few times in 10 years, I think it’s been worth it.

Healthy. Bold. Warm. Unique. Easy to assemble on just one sheet pan. I’d love to see how this recipe worked out for you! Tag @whitecoatpinkapron on Instagram or Facebook with pictures of your Roast Pork Tenderloin with Fennel!

For the pork:

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450F.

Place the fennel, onion, and pear on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the vinegar and olive oil, and sprinkle with salt. Use your hands to toss, and then spread everything out evenly on the baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

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